funny (if not necessarily "passive-aggressive") notes from pissed-off people

Don’t spend it all in one place

Writes June in Georgia: “I like tattoos. A lot. I have several, and my grandparents got to see a *few* of them for the first time during my trip to visit them in California over Labor Day weekend. Let’s just say they were…less than thrilled.” Still, that that didn’t stop Grandma and Grandpa from slipping little Junie an envelope with a bit of cash for the trip home. “I can’t imagine what they are trying to tell me!” says June.

Meanwhile, Annika in Inuvik, Canada got this bill as part of her change from a cabbie. (She passed it on later that day when she bought lunch — handing it to the cashier note-side-down.)

*shrug* if she’d like to give a gift that isn’t a tattoo, I don’t see anything wrong with that. (Though I think it’s better form to actually buy people gifts if you’re going to do it that way and if there are things you do not want them to have.)

I do find it kind of annoying, though, when older people are all “zomg DISAPPROVE” of choices like tattoos. It’s not like it’s on their own bodies.

I don’t get it the tattoo disapproval either, Raichu. If you don’t like ink, don’t get a tattoo. It’s that simple. My parents and extended family of the previous generation don’t like my tattoos either, but over the years I think they’ve just decided to live and let live, because I haven’t heard a word about it in years.

And I don’t see anything wrong with a cash gift for a purpose, either. I’d rather see it spun positively rather than negatively, though. Give a gift of cash and say “For new clothes!” or “Get yourself a new book on me” or something. Whether you put strings on it or not, any gift of cash can be used for whatever because once it is given it is out of the gift giver’s control.

Getting tatted up is all on the person getting it done but I do have to express reservations when people get them on their neck or face. There are times when you have to get a straight job and squares do not like neck or face tattoos. Tattoos are more accepted than ever now but there is a limit. Your employment opportunities will suffer otherwise.

Sure. And I admit that I would question a friend or relative that decided to get a tattoo above the collar or below the wrist for exactly the reason you state. But most ink is easily covered by an interview suit, and I bet June’s are too. Typically, when people DISAPPROVE they aren’t talking about someone who has tattooed puzzle peices all over his head. They’re talking about average, everyday, very common tattoos on shoulders, arms, legs, backs, chests, hips, etc.

NOt regarding this PA note but about others: Article in my paper today on a guy who trespassed into a college office in Colorado and is caught on camera raiding the fridge/freezer to steal lunches. Sort of creates a whole new aspect of PAN, perhaps.

The first one reminds me about when my mom got her first tattoo (at the young age of 40, I might add). She used the birthday money ($40) that my nana sent her “to buy something nice for herself”. I think Nana meant something like a sweater.

After that, Nana never sent that much birthday money again.

Since then, both parents, my sister, and I all have at least one tattoo.

This first time tattoo story made me think of a call-in I heard on the radio a few months ago. This lady got drunk with a friend of hers and agreed to let the friend give her her first tattoo. She spent the next morning trying to explain to her husband Tom why she had “I Love Steve” across her shoulder.

I can say that none of us were drunk at the time of our tattoos. In fact none of the tattoo shops I’ve been in will tattoo someone who is drunk. And for all of my tattoos, I had to book an appointment weeks in advance.

When ever anyone asks me for advice about getting one I always suggest deciding on what you want to have and being certain of it. I’ve heard getting rid of a mistake tattoo hurts worse then getting it in the first place. Drunken tattoo getting just seems like asking for trouble.

Oh, I hear removing them is a B. I haven’t been brave enough to get one yet. I’m afraid of outgrowing whatever I choose and being stuck with it. My 50 year old aunt went through a Scooby Doo phase about 15 years ago (She had 5 kids and watched with them). She enjoys a good drink, and ended up with Scooby Doo on her ankle. The artist may have done something wrong because it turned from brown to bright purple a short time later. She hasn’t removed it though. She’s just made it a conversation piece – the purple Scooby. She’s a good sport about it, even when she’s sober.

Yikes. It does sound like maybe the artist messed something up if the colour changed that much.

I knew what I wanted for my first tat for about 5 years before I got it. I had made my choice when my sister got hers, but my parents made me wait until I was legally old enough to get it. It was my 18th birthday present to myself. Litterally. I got it done on my birthday. For each of the others, I also waited several weeks between choosing what I wanted and getting it done. I don’t regret any of them that way.

I still want to get at least one more, but I just haven’t found the time to look for a design and book the appointment.